site.btaAlbanian President Arrives on Official Visit to Bulgaria

Albanian President Arrives on Official Visit to Bulgaria

Sofia, October 6 (BTA) - The opportunities for deepening the
trade and economic ties between Bulgaria and Albania were the
focus of the talks between Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
and his Albanian counterpart Bujar Nishani, who arrived at a
two-day official visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday. The two
presidents agreed that the economic cooperation is progressing
well but still does not meet the full potential of their
countries.

The results for 2014 show serious progress in the bilateral
relations, Plevneliev said at a joint news conference with the
Albanian President after their one-to-one meeting and the
plenary talks of the official delegations. The Bulgarian head of
 State gave as example the number of Bulgarian tourists who
visited Albania, which increased seven-fold in 2014 compared to
2013. There is also serious increase in the number of Albanian
tourists in Bulgaria, who totalled 25,000 in 2014. "We want to
encourage even more Bulgarian citizens to travel, make business
and invest in Albania," Plevneliev said. Trade has also
increased, reaching 80 million euro, he added.

The two presidents talked about the options for encouraging more
 Bulgarian companies working in the sphere of energy, renewable
energy sources, energy connectivity, and transport
infrastructure to work in Albania. The Bulgarian companies are
interested in participating  in the construction of
infrastructure projects in Albania, Plevneliev said. These are
projects funded by the Albanian government, as well as along the
 line of the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, and the European Investment Bank.

The topic of the unsatisfactory transport and energy
connectivity in the region also featured on the agenda of the
talks between the presidents, who agreed that there is strong
need for its improvement. Plevneliev noted the importance of
continuing the work on the implementation of Pan-European
Corridor VIII and the further construction of the
Sofia-Skopje-Tirana-Durres railway line, as well as the
construction of a motorway along this route.

Plevneliev also outlined the importance of achieving better
connectivity in the energy sector. He once again stated the need
 of Southeastern European countries uniting and creating a
regional energy exchange.

Bulgaria supports Albania on the road to EU integration,
Plevneliev also said. He once again expressed the position that
the process of EU integration is not complete without the
integration of the Western Balkans, which depends on the
individual progress of each country and the implementation of
the membership criteria.

The Bulgarian head of State voiced this country's readiness to
share its experience regarding the reforms, which are about to
be implemented in Albania - in energy, education, security,
attracting of foreign investments, justice, etc. Bulgaria will
support every action in the region, which demonstrates European
values and positions, Plevneliev stressed.

President Plevneliev also said that in its capacity as holder of
 the Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European
Cooperation Process (SEECP), Bulgaria will propose the adoption
of a joint declaration for inviolability of the borders of the
Balkan countries. "Our country relies on Albania's support for
the successful implementation of this initiative and for support
 of the main priorities of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office
of SEECP -
 energy, energy interconnection and infrastructure; support for
active civil society and development of the democratic
institutions; migration and refugee flow," Plevneliev said.

The two presidents discussed migration pressure on the EU and
shared the understanding that, only if standing together, the
countries may efficiently cope with the problem and that a
differentiation should be made between refugees, coming from
conflicting regions, and economic migrants. Plevneliev said that
 in the following months Bulgaria will pursue an active foreign
policy for the development of a common position to address
migration pressure. Bulgaria will seek the consensus of all
countries in the region on the basis of clear criteria,
Plevneliev said further.

The Albanian President thanked for the Bulgarian support for
Albania's European integration. He said that his country is
interested in the Bulgarian experience in agriculture, services
and the absorption of the European funds.

Asked about the Bulgarian national minority in Albania, which
has not been recognized, President Nishani replied that Albania
is one of the countries, which is fully open and interested in
protecting minority rights. In Albania, all citizens have the
right to declare their national and religious affiliation. "The
issue of the identification of the national minority is based on
 the international conventions and Albania is open to the
application of these convention and the European standards. Once
 these minorities meet the European standards and charters, they
 will be formally recognized," President Nishani said.

Later in the day the Albanian guest was received by Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov. "Our support for the European
perspective of Albania and the other countries of the Western
Balkans is consistent and active," Borissov said at the meeting.
 "We appreciate Albania's role as an important ally within the
NATO partnership," he added, quoted by the Cabinet's Press
Service.

The two countries have a potential to develop and promote their
partnership in a number of sectors, such as infrastructure,
construction, energy and tourism, Prime Minister Borissov
continued.  
   
He outlined the following priority areas of cooperation in the
field of home affairs: the fight against international terrorism
 and extremism, cross-border organized crime, drugs trafficking,
 smuggling and busting of illicit trafficking rings.
 
The migration issue also featured on the agenda of the
discussions.

President Nishani said he shares the wish and desire of the
Bulgarian side to promote cooperation between the two friendly
states and agreed that there are untapped potentials for trade
and economic cooperation. This will open broader possibilities
both before Bulgaria and Albania, the guest said.